Ptiloneuridae

Introduction

The family Ptiloneuridae includes about 60 species in 9 genera known primarily from Central and South America.  Some species of the genus Loneura have recently been described from the southwestern US and Mexico.

These are medium to large-sized bark lice (4-6 mm).  Body colors are generally brown or reddish brown.  Ptiloneurids are known to inhabit forests and rock faces.

Characteristics

Synapomorphies

• Head has the epistomal suture absent dorsally.
• Forewing has hairs on ventral surface (underside of wing).
• Tarsi have 3 segments.

General Characters

• Head:
  
• Antennae have 13 segments.
• Head lacks dorsal epistomal suture.
• Labrum has parallel sclerotized streaks.
• Legs: Tarsi have 3 segments.
• Wings:
• Forewing has hairs on underside (ventral surface).
• Forewing has 2 anal veins.
• Forewing areola postica is free from vein M.
• Male: Structures of genitalia are highly modified and variable.
• Female:
  
• Gonypophyses are somewhat reduced:
• Ventral valve is present.
• External valve is a finger-like lobe broadly attached to side of the dorsal valve.

How to Know the Family

• Labrum has parallel sclerotized streaks.
• Tarsi have 3 segments.
• Forewing has two anal veins.
• Forewing has hairs on underside (ventral surface).
• Forewing areola postica is free from vein M.

Family Monophyly

The monophyly of the family is Ptiloneuridae supported by three characters: head with the epistomal suture absent dorsally, presence of ventral setae of forewing, and three-segmented tarsi (Yoshizawa 2002).

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Relationships within the family have not been investigated using molecular techniques.

References

Garcia Aldrete, A.N. 2003. New species of Loneura (Ptiloneuridae: Psocoptera), from Argentina, Nicaragua and Mexico. Anales del Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Serie Zoología 74: 11-19.

Garcia Aldrete, A.N. 2004. New species of Loneura (Psocoptera: Ptiloneuridae), from Venezuela and Nicaragua. Anales del Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Serie Zoología 75: 143-148.

Johnson, K. P. & E. L. Mockford. 2003. Molecular Systematics of Psocomorpha (Psocoptera). Systematic Entomology 28: 409-40

Lienhard, C. and C. N Smithers. 2002. Psocoptera (Insecta) World Catalogue and Bibliography. Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland.

Mockford, E. L. 1993. North American Psocoptera (Insecta). Gainesville, Florida: Sandhill Crane Press.

New, T.R. 2005. Psocids, Psocoptera (Booklice and barklice), 2nd edition: Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol. 1, Part 7. Royal Entomological Society, London, UK.

Smithers, C. N. 1996. Psocoptera. Pp. 1-80, 363-372 (Index) in Wells A. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 26. Psocoptera, Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing, Australia.

Yoshizawa, K. 2002. Phylogeny and higher classification of suborder Psocomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea:'Psocoptera'). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 136: 371-400.